These people have killed more men, women and children here at home during the past 15 years than the combination of (1) illegal immigrants and (2) anyone having to do with the Muslim faith. They regurgitate conspiracy theories that they hear from bloggers and other self-styled commentators who fill their own pockets by inventing sensational lies.

Who are they?

These killers are American extremists. They embody hate. They turn to violence against non-Christians, government officials, racial and religious minorities, abortion supporters and others in their perceived fight to save America. A number of them join militias, carry high-powered guns and stake out those who they believe are threatening America.

The internet is loaded with their stories about how you and I should be preparing for a coming civil war in America between true believers and evil minorities. At last look, there were over 13 million references.

American extremists often espouse anti-communism, neo-fascism and an irrational abhorrence for abortion. Their purpose is to overthrow our existing government and to replace it with a nationalist or fascist government.

One such group that talks love for America and hatred for minorities is the KKK. Its targets are blacks, yellows, reds, browns, LGBTQ’s, Muslims, illegal immigrants and any other minority that does not have strength in numbers.

It’s not just skinheads, sheet-wearing cowards and young troublemakers who people nationalist organizations. A number of mainstream Americans work to foment nationalist causes and government chaos.

This is troubling.

Amid all of the fear-mongering of radio and television personalities, there is a hard truth that is being lost. American extremists have committed more carnage within the United States, participated in more terrorist attacks and killed more Americans on America’s own soil than all of the illegal immigrants and Muslim jihadists combined.

Here is an abbreviated list of terrorist attacks in America on Americans by American extremists since September 11, 2001. I present this representative list under the heading of jogging your memory.

And this does not include a multitude of others like the atrocity committed by anti-government white extremist, Tim McVeigh. In 1995 McVeigh set off a bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He murdered 168 people and injured 600 more.

Even here in our own county, I know acquaintances who earnestly believe that the government is taking away our freedom, that all Muslims are terrorists, that Hispanic minorities are dangerous murderers and rapists, that Obama was not born in the United States, and that Jews are to be tolerated only for now. Arguing against these wrongful perceptions is like arguing with a wall.

This attitude among some folks reminds me of the time when I was growing up and being brain-washed about how black people were stupid, dirty, bad-smelling, crooks and welfare chiselers. I did not understand. My friends and their families were none of these things. Sixty years later, I had hoped that kind of ugly prejudice and uneducated understanding of other people had ceased with the passing of older generations.

Making it worse today is that those with extremist positions often base their views on falsehoods. For example, I am sure you know people who will argue about how the government is illegitimate, and therefore we should not pay taxes to it. Or that women are inferior to men. Or that Jews run the world.

I am not arguing against vigilance or the protection of our way of life. However, it seems to me that we must stand up for what is right and not be misled by demagogues who exploit the worst in us and enrage unfounded views. We must shield ourselves from hatred and guard against contrived positions.

So let me say this again.

Born-here, red-white-and-blue American extremists have committed more carnage within the United States, participated in more terrorist attacks and killed more Americans on America’s own soil than all of the illegal immigrant terrorists and Muslim jihadists combined.

Perhaps we are looking for the boogeyman in the wrong place.

Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Shippensburg University trustee and founder of eLynxx Solutions that provides software for managing direct mail, marketing and print. He is a board member, campaign advisor, published author, and News Talk 103.7 commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com